’“Steve’s eyes began to bat. Not only did they open and close in rapid succession, but his face scrunched up with each eye movement.‘Calm down... Steve. She’s kidding you.’“He looked ready to cry. ‘What can we do, Will?’‘Suppose we pull off her dress.’ As I uttered the words, I was nearly sick. I couldn’t believe I’d dared to say them.“Her face was impassive. Astounded by her indifference at my outrageous suggestion, I asked, ‘Diane, is that OK?’ It was a stupid question.“There was no reply, yet. We'll have to think of some other ways these dragons can help people."I called Mrs. Stevens to tell her a car would be there by eight for the first day of school. I also told her that there was plenty of room for her to ride along if she wanted to and the school said it would be fine if she wished to attend Cassie and Sue's classes.Fun and I went by the store to note the usual crowd with people playing with the dragons then went home for a few minutes. The home answering machine showed a. The woman peering back out of the mirror at me had eyes red from crying and pain lines all around her mouth. The eyes could stay, but the lines had to go. I grabbed a towel and held it to my face, my hand guiding me to the toilet to sit on the closed lid. One deep breath followed another as I forced myself to distance these feelings. Hot tears burned my eyes and fought my control. I was such a heartless bitch to feel this way. The rattle of the doorknob startled me so much I almost dropped the. There was a long pause. Her eyes bored into mine as if She was reading all my secrets.?Maybe you are but, sorry or not, you’ve been a naughty girl and you still need to be punished, you know that, don’t you?? Her tone was soft and understanding.?Yes, Miss.??Good girl.? She reached down and unfastened my wrists and ankles. Painfully, inch by inch, I forced my stiff limbs to move and managed to sit up. Meanwhile She went over to a sink in the corner and got me a glass of water. Never before has.